Opposition parties yesterday expressed frustration at the Government's refusal to accept amendments to the Disability Bill which would provide services to disabled people as a right rather than on the basis of resources.
While some 140 amendments to the legislation were discussed before a Dáil committee yesterday, Fine Gael, Labour and Independent TDs said any changes that were accepted were largely technical.
Opposition parties proposed a number of amendments which were either voted down by the Government or put back for discussion. They included an explicit commitment to rights in the Bill's title or introduction; a broader definition of disability; and a provision under which funds for disability services would be ringfenced.
However, the Minister of State with Responsibility for Justice, Frank Fahey, said Government moves to encompass "episodic" disability in the Bill and allow the Ombudsman to become involved in appeals procedures for services were highly significant.
He said there was no legislation which provided for ring-fenced funding.
Fine Gael spokesman on social and family affairs David Stanton TD said the refusal to allow a wider definition of disability that would include depression could have "very serious" consequences.
Labour's Kathleen Lynch TD said the definition of disability in the Bill followed a medical model, and was narrower than in other pieces of legislation relating to disability.
Independent TD Finian McGrath also expressed frustration at the Government's refusal to provide for ring-fenced funding.
Namhi, a group which represents up to 28,000 intellectually disabled people and their families, said the Government had failed to respond to the legitimate concerns of it members.
The debate on the Bill is due to resume tomorrow. The Bill is likely to be enacted before the summer.
